TZRMA 114

Chapter: 114

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Chapter 114: Baek Mokryeon (1)

After Jegal Ho and Jegal Yeonhwi temporarily left to settle the commotion,

I was finally able to look over everyone one by one.

The first person I noticed was Moonho, covered from head to toe in blood.

By now, he looked so natural in that state that it almost seemed like crimson was his original skin color.

Though most of it didn’t appear to be his own blood.

“Moonho.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“So you survived.”

“How could I leave before you, Young Master?”

Perhaps because the tension had finally lifted, Moonho actually cracked a joke.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re half dead, yet your mouth still works just fine.”

“The same could be said for you, Young Master.”

I wanted to punch him.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the strength.

Still…

We had survived again.

Only then did true relief finally settle over me.

Turning my gaze, I noticed small cuts on Seol-ah’s arm and shoulder.

None of them were serious, but her face was still pale.

“Seol-ah.”

“Yeah?”

“You pushed yourself too hard.”

“I’m fine. We came here because of me, after all.”

The little girl who had once been so tiny had grown this much.

Feeling strangely proud, I reached over and gently patted her head.

Seol-ah’s eyes widened.

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“I’m proud of you. Stay still.”

“There are so many people watching. You’re treating me like a child.”

Yet despite her complaint, she quietly leaned her head toward me.

Seeing that, she still seemed the same as before.

Finally, I looked toward Yoo Sowol.

She had already dispersed her Ice Sword and was standing with her arms crossed.

Her gaze remained as proud as ever, but her shoulders rose and fell ever so slightly.

She must have exhausted herself as well.

“Looks like you’re safe too.”

“Hmph. Did you really think someone like me would get hurt by something like this?”

“You seemed to struggle quite a bit earlier.”

“That’s only because your Dao power is too weak.”

“You never change your excuse.”

“Because it’s the truth!”

Sure enough, I could clearly see the Dao power flowing from my upper dantian into her had become noticeably weaker.

If my Dao power were completely exhausted…

What would happen to her?

I’ll figure that out little by little.

Just then, I sensed someone approaching.

Jegal Yeonhwi walked over, tilted his head, and looked Yoo Sowol up and down.

“And who might this young lady be?”

A chill ran down my spine.

I couldn’t exactly tell him she was a noble ghost maiden who had eaten the Immortal Fruit in Peach Blossom Paradise.

Much less reveal that she was a Half-Spirit.

Fortunately, ordinary martial artists couldn’t sense the ghostly aura surrounding her.

Just as expected.

Yoo Sowol’s eyes sparkled as she stepped forward.

“Are you referring to me?”

Jegal Yeonhwi smiled with interest.

“What a spirited way of speaking. Are you perhaps the daughter of some distinguished family?”

Yoo Sowol proudly lifted her chin.

“Of course. As for me, I am one who accompanies this wandering spir—”

I moved instantly.

Smack.

I clamped my hand over her mouth.

Even with my internal injuries, I might have moved faster than Shadowless Step in that instant.

“Mmph! Mmff!”

Stepping forward, I calmly said,

“She’s my attendant.”

“…”

“Ahem.”

Cheongheo awkwardly cleared his throat, while Elder Juhon and the Pavilion Master of Jaegyeong Pavilion twitched their eyebrows as if they had gone mad.

Fortunately, none of them said anything.

Silence filled the courtyard.

Jegal Yeonhwi narrowed his eyes.

“Your attendant?”

The priests of Mount Mao also turned their attention toward me.

Seol-ah blinked in surprise, while Moonho nodded with a serious expression.

Jegal Yeonhwi clapped his hands.

“Ah! Muyeon, she’s your attendant?”

“Yes.”

“I see. You and Seol-ah left in such a hurry.”

“That’s right.”

Within my grip, Yoo Sowol struggled like a madwoman.

“How dare you call me…! Mmph! Mmph!”

I pressed my hand even harder over her mouth.

“She’s rather shy around strangers.”

Jegal Yeonhwi looked at Yoo Sowol.

She glared at me as though she wanted to tear me to pieces with her eyes alone.

“For someone who’s shy, she certainly has a murderous glare. Before bringing her into the family, you’d better discuss it with Chief Steward Heo again.”

“I was planning to.”

Once Jegal Yeonhwi seemed satisfied and turned away, Yoo Sowol immediately bit my palm.

“Ah!”

I reflexively let go.

Taking a deep breath, Yoo Sowol practically spat the words at me.

“You wretch! Did you just call me your attendant?”

“If you want to live, stay quiet.”

“Who’s saving whom? You wandering spirit!”

Just then, Jegal Ho’s booming voice rang out as he finished dealing with the chaos.

“That’s enough.”

With those simple words, the atmosphere immediately settled.

Jegal Ho’s gaze shifted toward the kneeling Black Wind Captain and Jegal Gwangjin.

“Dojin will be disarmed and escorted back to the main family. Every member of the Black Wind Unit is to remain where they are. Anyone who resists will be executed in the name of the Flying Swallow Unit and the Steel Sword Unit.”

“Understood!”

The Flying Swallow warriors answered in unison.

“Jegal Gwangjin.”

Jegal Gwangjin’s shoulders trembled.

“As a member of the Strategy Division, you exceeded your authority. Return to the family and explain yourself personally.”

“Captain of the Flying Swallow Unit, I was merely following the family’s orders—”

“Silence.”

Jegal Ho’s voice fell like ice.

“Save your excuses for the military council you were always so proud of.”

Jegal Gwangjin’s face turned deathly pale.

“Instead of this, perhaps we could speak first. There seems to be some misunderstanding—”

Jegal Ho had already turned away, making it clear he had no intention of listening.

Soon afterward, the martial warriors escorting the prisoners began leaving in formation.

Watching them, I narrowed my eyes.

The family’s military force appeared as though they had predicted everything.

Was it really just a coincidence?

One person suddenly came to mind.

Jegal Sang, who was currently at the headquarters of the Murim Alliance.

Had he helped me?

Or…

Had he been testing me?

I still couldn’t tell.

But one thing was certain.

The Jeongeommun affair was over.

Sama Hyeok was dead.

One of the Black Underworld instructors had disappeared beneath my sword.

On top of that, their crimes against Mount Mao would soon come to light, giving us complete justification.

At the very least…

There was nothing left to worry about.

I slowly lowered my bloodstained sword.

The tip still felt unbearably heavy.

Yet strangely…

A corner of my heart felt lighter.

The chain of blood that had begun in the Blood Valley.

One of its links had finally been severed.

At that moment, Jegal Yeonhwi approached and quietly asked,

“Can you walk?”

I steadied my breathing before answering.

“I can.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“…”

Jegal Yeonhwi chuckled before grabbing my arm.

“Stop trying to look tough while staggering around and lean on me. If that’s what you learned at the Hall of Martial Arts, then Jeokun taught you rather poorly.”

I started to object.

But stopped.

My body had already reached its limit.

In the end, I accepted his support and took a step forward.

Behind me, Yoo Sowol grumbled.

“To think that weak body dared call me an attendant.”

Moonho cautiously spoke up.

“But if you’re his attendant, doesn’t that mean you can stay beside the Young Master forever?”

“…”

Yoo Sowol froze for a moment.

Then she quickly turned her head away.

“Hmph. Looks like the zombie’s brain hasn’t completely stiffened.”

“Z-Zombie? Who are you calling a zombie, you evil ghost?!”

“Evil ghost? Have you completely lost your fear?”

The two immediately began arguing.

I closed my eyes.

My head hurt.

Whether because of my internal injuries…

Or because of those two.

Probably both.

When we reached the entrance of Jeongeommun,

the Taoist priests of Mount Mao were already waiting.

Cheongheo.

Elder Juhon.

Even the Pavilion Master of Jaegyeong Pavilion.

Fatigue was plainly visible on their faces, but their eyes were no longer the same as before.

Cheongheo stepped forward first.

After quietly looking at me for a moment, he bowed deeply.

“Mount Mao will never forget what happened today.”

“Sect Leader.”

“You exposed the sins of Jeongeommun and released the resentful spirits bound to Peach Blossom Paradise. Furthermore, you have washed away Mount Mao’s long-standing disgrace…”

His voice grew softer.

“From this day onward, Mount Mao will honor Young Master Jegal as our benefactor.”

At those words, Elder Juhon awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Hmph… The Sect Leader isn’t exaggerating.”

Normally, he would have made some sarcastic remark.

But this time, even Elder Juhon lowered his head.

“To be honest, I didn’t believe in you at first. I wondered what a young master from the Jegal Family could possibly accomplish.”

“…”

“It was I who was blind. You have my apology.”

The Pavilion Master of Jaegyeong Pavilion also cupped his fists respectfully.

“Mount Mao will certainly repay this debt one day.”

I looked at them for a moment before shaking my head.

“It wasn’t a favor. I gained much from this as well.”

Peach Blossom Paradise.

The Immortal Fruit.

Binding Yoo Sowol, who had consumed it, allowed me to obtain the Immortal Fruit’s spiritual energy.

On top of that, I stopped the atrocities committed by Sama Hyeok, one of the Black Underworld’s instructors.

Had this never happened,

I would have learned none of it.

So it couldn’t be said that I alone had given something.

Just then,

small footsteps approached.

It was Hyeonjin.

The young Taoist stood before me with both hands neatly folded together.

Only moments ago he had been trembling in fear.

Now, for some reason, his eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

Hyeonjin bowed deeply.

“Great Hero.”

“Little Taoist.”

After raising his head, he spoke carefully.

“Thank you for believing in me back then.”

“Right. Though I should be thanking you as well.”

“Huh?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have survived in Peach Blossom Paradise.”

At that moment,

I remembered the sword wrapped in blazing flames by his talisman.

Without Hyeonjin,

I never could have properly fought Yoo Sowol when she was still a Half-Spirit.

After taking a slow breath, I continued.

“If not for your courage, I couldn’t have defeated that evil ghost. So I owe you my thanks as well.”

“Who are you calling an evil ghost?!”

Yoo Sowol suddenly shouted in outrage.

Hyeonjin nervously moved his lips before finally clenching both fists.

“I’ve made my decision.”

“What decision?”

“I’m going to become an outstanding Taoist.”

Though his voice trembled, his resolve never wavered.

“And someday, far in the future, I’ll become a martial artist worthy of helping you, Great Hero.”

…

A bond had been formed.

And it was likely to become a lasting one.

But the road I had to walk was anything but peaceful.

The chain of blood that began in Blood Valley.

The path ahead of me would not be one lined with flowers.

It would be a crimson road of blood.

I couldn’t allow this child to walk it with me.

Thinking that, an inexplicable heaviness settled in my heart.

Suppressing the feeling, I gave him a faint smile.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Hyeonjin’s face immediately lit up.

“Yes, Great Hero! In that case, starting today I’m going to train with the sword.”

“The sword?”

“Yes! I’ll transform Mount Mao into a Sword Sect with my own hands!”

His innocent answer made me laugh.

“A Sword Sect that uses Dao techniques… I suppose that’s something worth looking forward to.”

Perhaps one day,

he really would become an extraordinary Taoist.

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

The sound of galloping horses echoed from the distance.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Fast.

Someone was riding at full speed.

I turned my head.

Two horses came racing toward us through clouds of dust.

The moment I recognized their riders, my eyebrows twitched.

Hajin of the Jegal Family.

And the attendant Hyeona.

Why are those two here…?

These were people who should never have appeared here.

Both of them were drenched in sweat, and even the horses were breathing heavily, as though they had been pushed to their limits.

Hyeona leaped off her horse and stumbled as she ran toward us.

Hajin followed close behind, his face deathly pale.

“Young Master!”

“Young Master Muyeon!”

Hyeona’s voice cracked.

Instinctively, I stepped forward.

“Hyeona? Hajin? What brings you here?”

Panting heavily, Hyeona’s lips trembled.

The moment I saw her expression,

for some reason,

my heart turned cold.

“Y-Young Master…”

“Go on. Tell me.”

“Something terrible has happened.”

Tears welled up in Hyeona’s eyes.

Then she spoke.

“Lady Jin…”

With those two words alone,

my heart sank.